‘Incognito’ has an unconventional premise and a great visual style.
Unfortunately, it takes so long to get its plot engine revving and has
such a charmless protagonist that it’s hard to remain engaged by the
proceedings.

Jason Patric stars as Harry Donovan, an embittered expert art forger
who, when we meet him, is in the process of being arrested for murder.
We then flash back to the start of Harry’s troubles four months
earlier, when he agrees to "forge" an undiscovered Rembrandt.

In other words, Harry will do an original work in the style of
Rembrandt, utilizing complicated and arcane techniques to make it
appear centuries old, and his employers will then "find" the painting
in a suitable location. At first, the plan goes brilliantly, but then
greed (the employers’) and ego (Harry’s) get in the way and disaster
looms.

What director John Badham does sumptuously well
is create a subtle painterly look that carries from scene to scene.
When he shows us the surface of a lake glimmering in the background, it
does not merely reflect sunlight but has soft blues and yellows melting
into one another; when a couple flee through a magically green wood,
the woman’s likewise jewel-green coat blends with the colors and shapes
of the leaves.

Further, Jordan Katz’s screenplay is full of authoritative, fascinating
facts about how art is variously made, copied, authenticated and
exposed as fake. ‘Incognito’ could serve as a handy tool for teaching
courses in the detection of art forgery. However, in an attempt to
portray Harry as deep, he has been made so cranky and unpersonable that
he’s frankly a chore to be around. As none of the supporting characters
have much dimension either--save Harry’s disappointed dad (well-played
by Rod Steiger)--we wind up more interested in the aging of paint than
the fate of the people, never a good sign. Even a bout of semi-public
sex in Chapter 7 doesn’t quicken the pace much, though a brief bout of
fierce violence in Chapter 16 is well-staged and momentarily startling.

For a movie that virtually disappeared upon theatrical release, the DVD
of ‘Incognito’ has a wealth of supplemental materials. Indeed, the
extras – visits to the studio where camera-friendly artist James
Gemmill paints "Harry’s" pictures, discussions of art techniques and
tales of high-stakes art swindling – are arguably a lot more engrossing
than the fictional tale they support.

more details

sound format:

English and French Dolby Surround 5.1

special features:

Interviews;
Audio Commentary; Making-Of Short on Artwork; English and French
Language Tracks; English, French and Spanish Subtitles